When Monroeville officials and residents meet Tuesday for another round of debating big billboards, Interstate Outdoor Advertising Co. -- the New Jersey-based company pushing the billboards ordinance -- will have a key community voice in its corner.

The Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce announced last week that it fully supports the ordinance, which would allow Interstate Outdoor Advertising to place big billboards along portions of the Parkway East from the Pennsylvania Turnpike leading into Pittsburgh.

In its endorsement statement, the Monroeville chamber noted that a favorable vote by Monroeville Council to change its current signage ordinance would make way for no more than five large billboards to be erected along the Parkway.

"We empathize with the small but passionate group of residents opposed to adding signage along that strip of highway. However, the Chamber's role on this matter is to speak for local business and provide another perspective on the issue," said Chad Amond, president of Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce.

"We believe that by taking an active role and position, the Chamber was able to obtain concessions from [Interstate Outdoor Advertising] which would not have been obtainable by Monroeville Council," Mr. Amond said.

The concessions, he said, include limits on offensive advertising, and the company's contribution of free advertising that will "ultimately benefit our community."

In endorsing the billboards ordinance, Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce officials said they have reached an agreement with Interstate Outdoor Advertising on some of the things the company will do to enhance Monroeville both aesthetically and economically.

Besides the ban on inappropriate and lewd "adult-type" messages on the billboards, key points of the agreement include a Western Pennsylvania office within Monroeville and allocation of a portion of its advertising inventory at no charge to the community for the promotion of local events.

In addition, Chamber of Commerce members and businesses would be granted right of first refusal on billboard use, and advertising rates for Monroeville businesses would be discounted by 10 percent.

Monroeville's debate over billboards resurfaced in March, two years after Interstate Outdoor Advertising requested permission from Monroeville to erect big billboards along the Parkway East.

At the time, Monroeville Council passed such an ordinance, but Mayor James Lomeo vetoed it.

In March, Interstate Outdoor Advertising returned with a revised version of its initial zone-change request. But the company also asked council to table debate on the issue to June 12.